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Curtis Glencross of the Calgary Flames hits the ice before NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks in Calgary, Alta. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014. It was the Flames' home opener, launching the season before hitting the road for an immediate six-game road trip. Lyle Aspinall/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

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Fitting, since it will double as an opportunity for fans to tip their cowboy hats to Alberta boy Curtis Glencross, who could be playing his final home game as a member of the Calgary Flames.

Glencross has been mentioned in the rumour mill in recent weeks and the 32-year-old alternate captain added fuel to the fire after Thursday's practice, confirming he has been asked to submit a list of teams he would be willing to join — his contract includes a no-trade clause — prior to the NHL's March 2 trade deadline. Friday is the Flames' final home date before deadline day.

“I love what’s going on here. I have a lot of good friends in this dressing room,” said Glencross, a father of two who’s expecting his third child in April. “We play for the 20 guys in this room every night. We have a good group. If it comes to the situation where you do have to leave, you’re gonna miss a lot of guys in here. But I have to kind of think about what’s best for myself and the family, as well ...

“It’s a tough situation.”

Read between the lines, and you get the feeling the tough part is over — that Glencross has come to grips with the fact he could soon be wearing another jersey.

The veteran left-winger, who has contributed eight goals and 18 assists in 49 outings so far this season, didn’t stickhandle Thursday around questions about his future.

Is he chatting with the Flames about a contract extension?

“No.”

Is his preference to stay in Calgary?

Glencross had nothing but good things to say about the city and the organization, but he pointed out: “It’s not only my decision. There’s a coaches’ decision and an upstairs decision. Where we are right now, I don’t really know what’s going to happen.”

Is he satisfied with the way he’s being utilized by the Flames?

“No, I’m disappointed in that circumstance,” replied Glencross, who is not currently working a regular shift on the powerplay or penalty-kill. “I feel like I can give more to this team and I can be used more on this team.”

With the Flames, who host the Anaheim Ducks Friday on Western Night at the Saddledome (7 p.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), fighting for a post-season berth in the NHL’s Western Conference, GM Brad Treliving certainly isn’t in sell mode.

So why are there rumours about Glencross, who has spent the past seven seasons in Calgary, wears an ‘A’ on his sweater and — at his best — plays with the type of you-know-what and vinegar that is so important come playoff time?

— Because of his contract status. Glencross is in the final season of a four-year pact — with an annual cap-hit of US$2.55-million — and will become an unrestricted free agent on Canada Day. With a relatively affordable pricetag, he’s an appealing ‘rental’ option for a squad that doesn’t have much wiggle-room under the salary cap, and the Flames won’t get an asset in return if he simply signs elsewhere in the summer.

— Because the Flames can replace him. Glencross missed nine consecutive contests from mid-January to early-February due to a hip injury, with the Flames rolling to a 6-3 record without him. He lost his spot on the shutdown line to fearless forward Lance Bouma, who continues to prove he can play a physical, responsible role and also chip in offensively. With the likes of Sven Baertschi and Michael Ferland toiling at AHL Adirondack, there are also young lefties waiting in the wings.

— Because he’s the sort of guy the top contenders are calling about. Glencross isn’t scoring as often as he’d like, but he’s the Flames’ best deflection artist and can also be counted on in a defence-first role. Elliotte Friedman reported Thursday on Sportsnet 960 The Fan that he believes about half of Treliving’s counterparts across the NHL have inquired about Glencross, proof there are plenty of possible destinations.

Treliving repeated over and over again Thursday that he’ll handle any trade talks “behind closed doors,” but he was decisive when asked if it’s still possible Glencross could finish the season with the Flames.

“Absolutely,” Treliving said. “In my mind, and I know I had this conversation with Curtis, he’s a Calgary Flame until something changes, and that’s not a certainty that is going to change.

“This is a guy who has been around. He’s a pro. This is not impacting how he plays. The fact that he states that he wants more? That’s great. I haven’t met a player who wants less.

“We need Curtis to play like we know he can play, and that’s going to help us in our quest.”

Ice chips

There was no sign of Flames RW Paul Byron at Thursday’s practice and he’ll likely miss Friday’s date with the Ducks due to a lower-body injury ... The Flames have summoned C Markus Granlund from AHL Adirondack, and the 21-year-old is expected to be in the lineup Friday. Meanwhile, LW David Wolf was reassigned to the farm club.